PHOTOS: Isis fighters trapped in West Mosul with only option to either surrender or be killed, Pentagon says

Isis fighters trapped in West Mosul with only option to either surrender or be killed, Pentagon says

Islamic
State (Isis) militants are stuck within western Mosul, unable to
resupply and reinforce, as Iraqi army continues to advance further into
the city, Pentagon spokesman Navy Capt. Jeff Davis, told reporters on
Tuesday (7 February).

Davis
added that the trapped jihadists have only two options – either
surrender or be killed by the Iraqi forces – "as there's not a place to
retreat".

After
liberating East Mosul of IS (Daesh) rule, Iraqi troops are currently in
control of all the five bridges on River Tigris that connects the
eastern and western parts of the city. Although Iraqi leaders declared
victory in East Mosul in late January, there have been some reports of
clashes between the fleeing militants and Iraqi army. Davis said that
the army is still clearing the city of uncovered sleeper cells and
terrorists hiding in "spider holes".

Meanwhile,
Davis told reporters that it is nearly impossible for IS fighters to
cross the Tigris River and flee West Mosul. "At this point, ISIL
fighters are stuck in Mosul," he said, noting: "Without the ability to
resupply or reinforce, [IS] is in a situation there where their loss is
certain."

The
Pentagon spokesman added that the US-led coalition forces have
continued air strikes in western Mosul. He also said that the coalition
has conducted 10,850 strikes in support of Iraqi operations to liberate
Mosul – the last IS stronghold in Iraq – since the operation began in
mid-October. These strikes have so far successfully destroyed
vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices, buildings and facilities,
tunnels, boats, barges, vehicles, bunkers, anti-aircraft artillery, and
artillery mortar systems, Davis said in a statement.

About
the fight in West Mosul, he said that the terrorist group had used its
best fighters in eastern Mosul and the coalition is aware that more
challenges await them in the western part.

"We know going into western Mosul that they are more dug in there; they
have had more time to place encampments and firing positions [and]
fighting positions," Davis said.

Davis
pointed out tests have confirmed the presence of the skin irritant
sulfur mustard from samples recovered from Mosul University, a central
location in ISIL's chemical weapons program.

Briefing
media persons on the anti-IS coalition operation in Syria, Davis said
that IS militants are surrounded in the Syrian city of al-Bab on
multiple axes. "We continue to conduct strikes, in fact there were just
some strikes earlier today in Al Bab by the United States and the
coalition in support of the Turkish operations," he added.

About
the ongoing fight to liberate Raqqa – IS stronghold in Syria –
coalition and its allies have recently kicked off a third axis – an
eastern axis – that adds to the northwest and northeast efforts where
isolation is either in progress or complete, Davis noted. He added that
coalition jets have conducted strikes on bridges south of Raqqa along
the Euphrates to restrict the militant group's ability to move fighters
and equipment.

"It
further isolates fighters so that they'll have to take their chances
with either fighting or dying or surrendering to the SDF [Syrian
Democratic Forces] or using what narrow window they have of escape they
have right now, which is really only in this direction [to the
southeast], toward Deir ez-Zur," he said.